According to Missouri prosecutors, three people have been charged with the felonies of persistent driving while under the influence. The arrests were made in South St. Louis County and Kirkwood over the last several months. While any driving while intoxicated charge is considered serious, a persistent DUI charge carries greater potential consequences, should someone be convicted. Any person facing such a charge will want to mount a strong criminal defense.

A 32-year-old woman was arrested after allegedly leaving the scene of an accident. The woman reportedly crashed into a lane-divider sign and a tree before driving away. Police had stopped the woman for apparently driving drunk, but matched her license plate to the one left earlier at the crash site. The officer claimed that he smelled alcohol on the driver’s breath. Records show that she had been previously been convicted of DWI in 2011 and 2012.

A 44-year-old man was arrested for DWI in Dec., 2016. A Kirkwood police officer supposedly found the man sleeping in a car that had been reported as having a careless driver. The man allegedly tried to drive away when first awakened, but later gave the keys to the officer. Police reports state that the man was too drunk for sobriety tests, but later tested at a .286 blood-alcohol level. He was previously convicted of DWI in 1999 and 2005.

A 35-year-old man was pulled over for a traffic violation when a Missouri State Highway Patrol officer apparently smelled alcohol and saw other signs of intoxication. He performed poorly on field sobriety tests, according to the officer. The man, who tested at a .251 blood-alcohol level, was arrested for DWI. His previous DWI convictions were in 2001, 2004 and 2007.

Any Missouri resident facing charges such as these will want to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney. A DUI lawyer will help clients understand the complexities of the charges and work toward achieving the best possible outcome given the situation. Having a strong advocate can help to minimize the negative consequences to an individual or a family member.

Source: callnewspapers.com, “Prosecutors charge three with persistent DUI felonies”, March 22, 2017